2024 Nov 17th - St Paul's Presbyterian Church, Welkom

Holy Communion or The Lord’s Supper - Visitors from other Christian churches are welcome at the Lord’s table.

For this service the Lord’s table is to be covered with a clean, plain, white cloth. Nothing other than the bread and wine, the plate(s) and the cup(s), Bible(s), prayer book(s) and hymn book(s) and the collection plate(s) or bag(s) may be placed on it.

Both before and after the communion

The bread is to be ordinary bread; grape juice may be used instead of wine. No set apart bread or wine may be taken away from the church.

The minister welcomes the congregation.

He announces the first hymn.

Hymn: ♪ Be Still My Soul Kari Jobe

After the hymn has been sung he says :

Let us pray together :

Almighty God to You all hearts are open, all desires known, and from You no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of Your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love You, and rightly honour Your holy Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The minister reads Christ’s summary of the law. Matthew 23-34-40

Minister:

Our Lord Jesus Christ said : “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it : Love your neighbour as yourself. All the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments”.

Congregation :

Lord have mercy on us, and write these commandments in our hearts and minds to keep them.

The Nicene Creed :

I believe in one God, the Father, Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all that is, seen and unseen.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds, God, from

God; Light, from Light; True God, from True God; begotten not made, of one substance with the Father. Through Him

all things were made, who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of

the virgin Mary, and was made man. For us He was crucified under Pontius Pilate, He suffered and was buried. On

the third day He rose again in accordance with the scriptures; He ascended into heaven and is seated at the

right hand of the Father. He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead and His kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and

the Son together He is worshipped and glorified. He spoke through the prophets. I believe in Christ’s holy

universal and apostolic church. I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look for the

resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

The announcements:

Collection:

The hymn before the sermon:

♫ Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne 1

The sermon:

The Power of Faith and Perseverance

Introduction: Good morning, beloved congregation. Today, we gather to reflect on the profound power of faith and perseverance in our lives. In a world filled with challenges and uncertainties, it is our unwavering faith and determination that help us overcome obstacles and grow closer to God.

Scripture Reading: Let's turn to our Bibles and read Hebrews 11:1-2 (NIV): > "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for."

Body:

Faith as Our Foundation:

Faith is the bedrock of our spiritual journey. It is the confidence in God's promises and the assurance that He is always with us.

Consider the story of Abraham, who, by faith, left his homeland to follow God's call, despite not knowing where it would lead. His faith was credited to him as righteousness.

Perseverance in Trials:

Life often presents us with trials that test our resolve. It is during these times that our faith must shine the brightest.

James 1:2-4 (NIV) reminds us: > "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

The story of Job serves as a powerful example. Despite losing everything, Job's faith in God never wavered, and he was ultimately blessed with greater prosperity.

The Role of Community:

Our faith journey is not meant to be walked alone. We are called to support and uplift one another, especially in times of hardship.

Galatians 6:2 (NIV) says: > "Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."

The strength of our community lies in our collective faith and our willingness to persevere together.

Practical Steps to Strengthen Faith and Perseverance:

Engage in regular prayer and meditation, seeking God's guidance and strength.

Study the scriptures diligently, drawing inspiration from the lives of the faithful who came before us.

Join a faith-based group or ministry where you can share experiences and support each other.

Conclusion: As we go forth this week, let us remember that faith is not merely a belief but a way of life. It calls us to trust in God's plan, even when we do not see the path ahead. Through faith and perseverance, we can face any challenge and emerge stronger in our walk with the Lord.

Let us bow our heads in prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank You for the gift of faith that sustains us. Help us to persevere through life's trials, knowing that You are always with us. Strengthen our hearts and guide our steps, so we may grow closer to You each day. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

May your Sunday be blessed and your faith renewed.

AMEN

The hymn after the sermon.

He Leadeth Me Lyrics Christian Hymns with Lyrics

Then the minister says :

Let us pray for Christ’s church on earth:

Almighty, eternal God, we are taught by Your holy word to make prayers and requests and to give thanks, for all people;

we pray that You will graciously hear us and accept our thanksgiving which we bring to Your divine majesty.

We pray You to give to all Christians Your Spirit of truth, unity and love and that all who take Christ’s name will acknowledge the truth of Your holy word and live by it.

We pray You to lead the governments of the nations in ways of righteousness and peace and to bless and direct, especially, Your servant the State President, that he, his ministers, and all in authority in our land will rule with wisdom, judge impartially and uphold truth and right.

Give grace, heavenly Father, to all Christian ministers that they may obey Your holy living word, faithfully teach it and rightly administer the sacraments.

Lord, give grace to all Your people and, especially, to this congregation, that they may hear and receive Your word reverently and serve You in holiness and righteousness all their lives.

We pray You to help and deliver all who are in trouble, sorrow, sickness or in any other need,

and we bless You, for all Your servants who have died in Your faith and fear; give us grace to follow their example that with them we may share Your heavenly kingdom.

Grant our prayers, Father, in the name of our advocate and mediator Jesus Christ. Amen.

The minister says:

Brothers and sisters in Christ, Holy Scripture teaches us that we are to examine our lives before we take part in the holy fellowship of the Lord’s Supper.

God, in His infinite love and mercy, gave His only beloved Son Jesus Christ to die for us, sinners, on the cross.

He atoned there for our sins, that we might become God’s children by adoption and have everlasting life.

We have come today, to remember Christ’s death and all that it means, as He Himself instructed.

But, before we do this we must judge ourselves, we must repent of the sins we have committed, we must firmly trust in Christ our

Saviour and above all we must praise and thank Him for His great love for us.

You therefore, who truly and earnestly repent of your sins, love your neighbours and intend to lead a new life, obeying God’s commandments and following in His holy ways, come near with faith and take this holy sacrament to strengthen you, and let us make our humble confession to Almighty God.

The general confession – said together

Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, maker of all things, judge of all men, we acknowledge and mourn for the many sins which we have committed, by thought, word and deed, against Your divine majesty, provoking most justly Your anger and indignation against us. We earnestly repent, and are heartily sorry for our misdoings which we remember with shame. Have mercy on us, most merciful Father. Forgive us all that is past and grant that from this time forward we may serve and please You in newness of life, to the honour and glory of Your name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Minister – standing:

Almighty God, our heavenly Father who of His greatest mercy has promised to forgive the sins of all who, with heartfelt repentance and true faith, turn to Him, have mercy on you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all that is good and bring you to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hear these words of encouragement from our Lord Jesus Christ to all who truly turn to Him:

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28

God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

Hear the Apostle Paul’s words:

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

1 Timothy 1:15

Hear the Apostle John’s words:

If anybody sins we have one who speaks to the Father in our defence – Jesus Christ the righteous one. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 2:1,2.

Minister :

Lift up your hearts.

Congregation :

We lift them up to the Lord.

Minister :

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

Congregation :

It is fitting and right to do so.

Minister :

It is entirely fitting, right and our duty at all times, and in all places to give thanks to You Lord, holy Father, almighty, everlasting God.

Congregation :

Therefore, with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven, we praise Your glorious name for ever, saying : Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts, heaven and earth are full of Your glory. Glory to You, Lord most high. Amen.

The minister, at the Lord’s table, leads the congregation in the prayer of humble access.

We do not presume to come to Your table merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, only in Your great mercy. We are not fit to gather up the crumbs under Your table. But You, Lord, are always the same, Your mercy is everlasting, grant therefore gracious Lord that we may by faith eat the flesh and drink the blood of Your dear Son Jesus Christ, that we may be united to Him and He to us. Amen.

The minister sets apart the bread and wine for orderly distribution. Then he says the prayer of consecration still standing at the north side of the table.

Almighty God our heavenly Father, of Your infinite mercy You gave Your only Son Jesus Christ to suffer death upon the cross for our redemption; who made there by His one offering of Himself, never to be repeated, a full, perfect and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, and who instituted and in His holy gospel commanded us to continue, a perpetual memory of His precious death until He comes again. Hear us merciful Father, and grant that we, receiving this bread and wine in accordance with Your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ’s holy institution to remember His death and suffering, may share in His most blessed body and blood; who on the night He was betrayed took bread and when He had given You thanks He broke it and gave it to His disciples saying: “Take, eat; this is My body which is given for you; do this is remembrance of Me”. In the same way after supper He took the cup and when He had given You thanks, He gave it to them saying: “Drink from this all of you for this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me”. Amen.

The minister takes the bread and wine for himself and then to anyone duly appointed to assist him. The congregation remains seated for the bread and wine to be brought to them. Before the minister distributes the bread and the wine he says to them in a clear voice:

The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for you, preserve your body and soul to everlasting life; take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for you and feed on Him in your heart by faith with thanksgiving.

The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ which was shed for you, preserve your body and soul to everlasting life; drink this in remembrance that Christ’s blood was shed for you, and be thankful.

As he hands the bread and wine to them individually he says :

Take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for you and feed on Him in your heart by faith with thanksgiving.

Drink this in remembrance that Christ’s blood was shed for you and be thankful.

After the Communion the Lord’s Prayer and one of the two following prayers is said together.

The Lord’s Prayer

Minister and congregation say together :

Glory to God in the highest and peace to His people on earth. We praise You, we bless You, we worship You, we give thanks to You for Your great glory, Lord God, heavenly king, God the Father Almighty.

Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of the Father, You who take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, You who take away the sins of the world have mercy on us.

Lord God You who sit at the right hand of God the Father have mercy on us. For You alone are the Holy One, You alone are Lord, You alone with the Holy Spirit are most high in the glory of God, the Father. Amen.

The minister says the blessing :

The peace of God which is above all understanding, keep Your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be amongst you, and remain with you always. Amen.